Pilots, air battle managers can get cash to stay in

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RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN) --  The fiscal 2006 Aviator Continuation Pay program will offer about 750 pilots and air battle managers a monetary incentive to continue their service.

A five-year, fixed-length agreement is available to eligible pilots and air battle managers who apply. The agreement values in annual pretax amounts are $25,000 for pilots and $15,000 for air battle managers.

The Air Force discontinued the 50-percent up-front option for all aviators and is not offering the program to navigators this year.

"Aviator continuation pay is an incentive program for specific year groups strictly driven by the availability of pilots, navigators and air battle managers within that year grouping," said Maj. Robert Namendorf, chief of aviation and medical special pay at the Air Force Personnel Center here.

"Because manpower fluctuates within these aviation positions, ACP may not be available to some rated officers this year, however they may apply if the program is open to them next year," he said. 

Pilot eligibility begins the day their active duty service commitment for undergraduate pilot training expires during fiscal 2006. They must also have a minimum of nine years active aviation service as pilots and meet all other eligibility requirements.

Eligible air battle managers must have completed their initial ABM aeronautical rating active duty service commitment and have a minimum of six years rated ABM aviation service during fiscal 2006. The six years are calculated from the date they received their wings.

Aviators eligible for ACP in previous years are not eligible for this year's program. Likewise, interservice transfers and those entering or returning to active duty through the reserve, Guard and civilian sector are ineligible.

The pay program targets specific rated-officer demographic groups to stabilize the inventory, provide accurate forecasts and, ultimately, maintain the Air Force's warfighting capability.

Before contacting the personnel center with questions concerning aviation continuation pay, aviators should discuss the program with their commanders. 

ACP application procedures are available online at: www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/acp/

For more details, call the Air Force Personnel Contact Center at (800) 616-3775 or DSN 665-5000. 

(Courtesy of AFPC News Service)